William w



(No Model.)

W. W. WILGOX.

SAIL GROMMET.

N0. 382,923. Patented May 15, 188B.

WITNESSES: l/V-I/E/VTOH.

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W MM! 7 ATTORNEYS.

iINITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM W'. WILCOX, OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT.

.SAiL-GROMMET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 382,923, dated May 15, 1888.

Application filed March 8, 1888. Serial No. 266,517. (No model.) i

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. WILOOX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Middletown, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sail-Grommets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a sailgrommet composed of a metallic eyelet and of a sheetmetal washer which is provided on its inner edge with projections which are bent outward and upward, so as to form barbs at or near the outer edge of the washer, as fully described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a central section of my grommet when applied to a piece of sail-cloth. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the washer dctached. Fig. 3 is a central section of the same. Fig. 4 is a plan of the blank from which my barbed washer is formed. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the eyelet detached. Fig. 6 is a central section of the same. Fig. 7 is a central section of the grommet when clinched, the sail-cloth being shown in dotted lines.

Similarletters indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, the letter A designates an eyelet, which is by preference made of sheet metal-such as sheet-brass or sheet-steel-but which may also be made of cast metal.

B is the washer, which is made of sheet metal and formed of a blank, 13*, which is represented in Fig. 4. From the inner edge of this blank project radial projections b, which are turned back upon the body of the washer and then up, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to form barbs at a distance from the inner edge of the washer.

By referring to Figs. 2 and 4 it will be seen that the number of barbs formed in the washer is uneven, so that said barbs are not diametrically opposite to each other, whereby, according to my experience, a firmer hold on the sailcloth is produced than can be obtained if the barbs should be placed diametrically opposite to each other. By forming the barbs b from projections extending from the inner edge of the washer I am enabled to bring the barbs to such a distance from said inner edge that they will penetrate the sail-cloth and take a firm hold of the same, which is not the case if said barbs are formed at or close to the inner edge of the washer. enabled to form the barbs with the greatest possible economy in stock, which is not the case if the barbs are formed from projections extending from the outer edge of the blank. Furthermore, I am enabledto use comparatively thin metal, since when the barbs b are bent back upon the body of the washer, as above described, said body is strengthened.

In applying my grommet to a piece of sailcloth I out a hole into the cloth just large enough to admit the barrel of the eyelet. Then I force the eyelet up through said hole, place the barbed washer upon the projecting end of said eyelet, press the barbs of the washer down into the sail-cloth, and, finally, clinch the eyelet, whereby the barbs of the washer are embedded in the sail-cloth and the grommet is firmly retained in position.

I do not claim in this present application anything shown and described in the United States Patent N 0. 304,249,. granted to me August 26, 1884.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A sail-grom met com posed of a metallic eyelet and of a sheet-metal washer which is provided at itsinner edge with projections which are bent outward and upward, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM W. WILCOX. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

W. O. HAUFF, E. F. KAS'IENHUBER.

At the same time I am 

